For many years I have wondered just how Antichrist will deceive the people of Israel. Israel will confirm a seven-year peace treaty with him. He will help them build the third Temple. It sounds as if the people of Israel will fully trust this man.

I wondered if the Antichrist might be Jewish, but then I would read Scripture which clearly states that the man of sin would come from the people who destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D. That means that his ancestors would have to come from a country which used to be within the Roman Empire. But that doesn't mean that he could not have some Jewish heritage in his ancestry.

There are those who believe that Antichrist will be a Muslim. As a Jew, there is no way I can believe that the Israeli people would place their trust in a Muslim.

But there is another possibility, and during my research of this, I would rather call it a 'probability.'

As you read about Kabbalah from this informative website, I will highlight certain words which will help you better understand this mystical movement. I will also insert my commentary (in italics) on the article except for the Bible verses I will be quoting.

From keen.com

What is Kabbalah? 2000 Years of Mysticism Explained

Have you ever seen someone wearing a red string bracelet? Or heard about the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles, which boasts Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, and Lucy Liu as clientele? What exactly is Kabbalah, anyway?

The answer depends entirely on whom you ask. There are really two Kabbalahs, one a form of Jewish mysticism, and the other a universal school of spiritual teachings. Although they share a common historical root, the dual movements that share usage of the name (which in Hebrew means "received teaching") are radically different today.

At its most fundamental core, Kabbalah is ancient Judaism's collective answer to some of the biggest questions about the universe: What happens after death? Is there such a thing as magic? What's the origin of good and evil? In fact, the primary texts of the Jewish faith, the Torah and Talmud, are largely silent on these metaphysical questions. The Kabbalah springs from a third book, more recently written than either of the classical texts, that details this incalculably complex school of mystical Jewish thought.

So, the Torah (Old Testament) is largely silent on what happens after death. Is there such a thing as magic and the origin of good and evil??

Let's look at OT Scripture regarding what happens after death.

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

Is there such a thing as magic?

"So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh" (Genesis 41:7-8).

"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.'

"So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace'" (Genesis 41:14-16).

What is the origin of good and evil?

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die'" (Genesis 2:15-17).

"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?'

"And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'

"Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings" (Genesis 3:1-7). ***The original sin or the origin of good and evil.

*** So here in God's Word (OT) we see that God DID speak of these three topics!

Before I continue with this piece, I want to make something clear. I LOVE my people! I am not attempting to disparage them in any way. I am attempting to help the brethren to understand WHY Israel will be deceived by Antichrist. I believe to the core of my being that Kabbalah and New Age teachings are the key to understanding how the devil has set up the people of Israel to trust and love the one who will come to confirm a 7-year treaty with the people of Israel.

(Keen.com): The Controversial Origins of Kabbalah

This seminal text is called the Zohar, and like its cosmological contents, it's shrouded in mystery. It's not even clear who wrote it-scholars debate whether the enormous tome was produced by the 2nd-century rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, or 13th-century Spaniard Moses de Leon.

According to legend, the wise scholar Shimon bar Yochai was inspired by the prophet Elijah to transcribe all of the mystical traditions of the Israelites, which were carried by word of mouth at the time. Fearing that the Romans would end his people and silence their wisdom, Shimon bar Yochai wrote in a cave for thirteen years.

After his death, his book was lost for over a millennia, until it was discovered and published by the Spanish writer Moses de Leon. He claimed that the Zohar was entirely the authentic work of the long-ago rabbi, but scholars aren't so sure. Some argue that he'd written his own work of mysticism (which would be an impressive feat on its own) and credited legendary Shimon bar Yochai for gravitas.

In a cave - about 2000 years ago? What other false and very demonic teachings were received in a cave? Muhammad received his "Islamic" teachings in a cave. Joseph Smith of the cult of Mormonism received his false teachings in a cave.......

(Keen.com): But there's powerful evidence that the Zohar could not possibly have been a recent work, including numerous anachronisms, timeline issues, and major stylistic differences from Moses de Leon's other books. This debate underscores an even more pressing question: how seriously should Jews take the Kabbalah? Does it represent ancient mysticism, or just a fascinating historical commentary? As we'll see, this question is at the heart of the rift between the two modern attitudes towards Kabbalah.

What Does the Zohar Really Say?

The Zohar is among the most challenging spiritual texts to make sense of. Its contents are esoteric and layered with meaning, so intricate that, traditionally, only men over the age of forty were considered suitably prepared for study! Perhaps its most iconic teaching is the ten sephirot, or attributes, through which the eternal and unknowable qualities of God (the ein sof) reveals Himself to the world (yes, it really is as complicated as it sounds!).

The sephirot are arranged as a tree, shown in the accompanying illustration, and each is ascribed a color and name. Some examples of sephirot include wisdom, eternity, kingship, and splendor. Many of them may be consciously understood through meditation and rigorous study, but others are elusive and incomprehensible. In fact, the uppermost attribute on the tree is said to be unknowable to the conscious mind. The Zohar also assigns various masculine and feminine aspects to God and provides mystical interpretations for controversies and fantastical events in the Torah (the Old Testament).

Here again, the site uses New Age verbiage to try to explain Kabbalism: Meditation; Unknowable to the conscious mind; Masculine and feminine aspects to God.........

(Keen.com): How is Kabbalah Practiced Today?

In some forms of Judaism, namely the orthodox Chasidic sect, devoted study of the ten sephirot is thought to enlighten the student to the "soul" of the Torah. These practitioners generally accept that the Zohar is a truly ancient work. But in the more liberal denominations of Judaism, the Kabbalah is a curiosity more than a way of life, viewed as a very fascinating document from the 13th century.

Most Americans who were raised Jewish did not encounter the Zohar in their Hebrew school curriculum (pretty reasonable, considering that the mind-boggling complexity of Kabbalistic thought doesn't translate easily to a third-grade class). That's why, for many practicing Jews, it can be understandably hard to fathom the global interest in Kabbalah.

I think that it is very clear why there is a global interest in Kabbalah. The devil is pure evil, but he is very smart. He is setting the stage for the arrival of Antichrist and for the deception of not just Israel - but the unbelieving world.

"So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?'" (Revelation 13:4).

(Keen.com): As mentioned earlier, Kabbalah has another face, one that transcends religious boundaries. In the last few centuries, the Kabbalah has fascinated metaphysical thinkers from diverse traditions, including the occultist Aleister Crowley and Tarot deck co-creator A. E. Waite (of the Rider-Waite deck). These influences have shaped a branch of Kabbalah truly distinct from the practices you'd expect from a rabbi.

According to this school of thought, the teachings of Kabbalah are universally sacred and compatible with all world faiths, not just Judaism, and should be available to all who seek them. This form of Kabbalah has evolved in conjunction with other spiritual practices; for example, each of the ten sephirot can be identified with a Tarot card, planet, and chakra. Additionally, these Kabbalists have wholeheartedly embraced astrology. They believe that stars and planetary forces have been known to shape our lives for millennia, but this wisdom was historically suppressed.

Again - the ONE WORLD RELIGION is coming to fruition.

(Keen.com): Celebrity practitioners of Kabbalah are more often than not in this camp, as are most practitioners who don't identify as Jewish. It's little wonder, since the attitudes of spiritual Kabbalists favor inclusivity and universality over a uniquely Jewish interpretation of the Zohar. That's why these Kabbalists don't stress knowing Hebrew or completing forty years of Torah study first.

For many of these practitioners, Kabbalah is just one facet of spirituality, a worldview that unites ethics and self-growth with a metaphysical understanding of the universe. The widespread appeal of this branch is evident in the numbers of red cord bracelets that have trended on red carpets in recent years. These cords are more than proof of membership at a Kabbalah Centre, but also function as a form of protection against the "evil eye" curse.

Inclusivity and Universality? Can you say ONE WORLD RELIGION?

(Keen.com): The Future of Kabbalah

So where does that leave Kabbalah today, and what does it mean for new practitioners?

It's unlikely that the divide between rabbinical scholars and astrology-following non-religious practitioners will close anytime soon. A more volatile question is, what will happen to spiritual Kabbalah when the celebrity craze fades? Perhaps its popularity is a sign of the Kabbalah's far-reaching appeal. Equal parts a strenuous mental workout and metaphysical guide, adherents both Jewish and otherwise equally derive enlightenment and spiritual wisdom that is unlikely to waver based on trends.

For a school of mysticism that's perplexed the brightest minds for nearly two millennia, and probably existed long before it was ever written down, staying power is virtually guaranteed.

Isn't it intriguing that the so-called wisdom of Kabbalah was received in the First century after our Lord Jesus Christ had come to earth - His mission to give Himself as the final sacrifice for sin to those who would repent and trust in Him fully?

Kabbalah

Americans know very little about Kabbalah. They do know that Madonna and other celebrities have practiced Kabbalah. What I have found about Kabbalah will shock many Christians, but hopefully they will connect the dots and see how Kabbalah will enable Antichrist to fool Israel into signing the 7-year peace treaty, and completely gain their trust.

Teachings of Kabbalist Rabbis:

- Reincarnation- Meditation- Speaking to the dead and channeling- Astrology

The Stage is Set

I personally believe that Antichrist is in Israel right now. Kabbalah has made Satan's job easier to deceive Israel into trusting 'the man of sin' as their messiah. I am sure that when he comes to them and offers to have them sign a 7-year peace treaty to protect them from their enemies, and also speaks of the construction of the 3rd Temple - the predominantly Kabbalist Nation of Israel will welcome him with open arms, thinking that their messiah has finally come.

But 3 ½ years into this 7-year treaty, the Antichrist will sit in the Temple and declare himself as God. Only then will the eyes of the Israelis be opened. Two thirds of them will be slaughtered by Antichrist, while one third will escape to the hills. Their eyes will have been opened by the Lord, and they will see that they missed the time of their visitation - and that Jesus Christ IS truly their Messiah!

I do hope that this article has brought understanding to many. If you have Jewish friends or family - pray about showing this piece to them.

"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Ezekiel 38:5 lists Persia, renamed Iran in 1935, as a member of the Magog coalition that invades Israel in the latter days.

Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, (Magog Coalition), all of them with shield and helmet. (Ezekiel 38:5)

The fifty-two verses in Ezekiel 38-39 provide some of the most literally descriptive predictions within the entire Bible. It identifies the invaders, their motives, their defeats, the Lord's divine intervention and purposes and the sequence of aftermath events. The focus of this article is the identification of WHO IS and WHO IS NOT, part of Ezekiel 38-39.

WHO IS PART OF THE EZEKIEL 38 PROPHECY

Ezekiel 38 and 39 involves at least fourteen participants in the prophecy. They are;

1.) The Victor: God.2.) The (intended) Victim: Israel.3.) The Invaders: Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, and Togarmah. (Refer to the Ezekiel 38 map image to find out the consensus of the modern-day equivalents of the Magog coalition).4.) The Protestors: Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish and their Young Lions.

The prophecy informs that, in the latter years the invaders will attack Israel to capture plunder and booty. They covet Israel's economic prosperity and conspire militarily to confiscate this livelihood as part of their spoils of war. As the victor, the Lord, not the IDF or America, prevents this from occurring by utilizing supernatural means to defeat these invaders. These miraculous events are described in Ezekiel 38:18-39:6.

Meanwhile, as the epic event unfolds, the protestors complain about the evil intentions of the invaders. Their protests are lodged in the questions in Ezekiel 38:13 quoted below.

"Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?" (Ezekiel 38:13)

Ultimately, after the invaders are conquered, Israel graduates from being the intended victim and instead becomes the resultant benefactor. The modern-day equivalents of these protestors today are commonly understood and taught to be;

1. Sheba: Yemen, where the Iranian proxies, the Houthis, exist today.2. Dedan: Saudi Arabia and perhaps parts of the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) Arab Gulf States.3. Tarshish: Either the UK or Spain.4. Young Lions: Either the colonies that came from the UK, namely North America, or the offshoots of Spain, mainly the Latin American countries. (In my book entitled, The Now Prophecies, I explain why the "Tarshish" is likely the UK and their "Young Lions" seems to be America.

WHO IS NOT PART OF THE EZEKIEL 38 PROPHECY

Having identified WHO IS part of the action in Ezekiel 38-39, now let's observe who appears to be MISSING IN ACTION (MIA). The emphasis is put upon Iran and its present proxies, who are, Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas and the Houthis. Iran also has a burgeoning presence within Iraq.

"Yemen's Houthis fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia's capital on Wednesday - an attack Saudi authorities said they intercepted in the skies over Riyadh. The assault took place a day after Saudi Arabia's top Western ally the United States pulled out of a deal with Iran over its disputed nuclear program and could signal an uptick in tensions between Riyadh and regional rival Tehran."

The Houthis are busy helping Iran spread its hegemony throughout the Middle East. Some suspect the Houthis, who were given missiles by Iran, are testing the proficiency of these missiles, by using Saudi Arabia as a punching bag. The purpose in part, is to confirm that Hezbollah's 150,000 Iranian provided missiles will be effective against a war with Israel.

At the very least, it is observable that the Houthis in Yemen are currently enemies of the Saudis. Yet, in Ezekiel 38:13, we see that Yemen, as Sheba, and Saudi Arabia, as Dedan, are aligned together protesting Iran's participation in the Magog invasion of Israel. The glaring question is: "Why is Yemen not included among the Magog invaders?" The probable answer is that something adverse happens to the Houthis before Ezekiel 38, that eliminates them as an affective proxy of Iran.

HEZBOLLAH

Iran hails 'victory against Israel' by its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon elections - Times of Israel 5/8/18

"A senior Iranian official on Tuesday hailed the "victory" of the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanese elections as a success in the "fight against Israel" and the United States."

Hezbollah is a major threat to Israel. Estimates are that they have about 150,000 advanced missiles pointed at a bank of strategic Israeli targets. Some analysts suspect that when Iran gives its Hezbollah proxy the green light to war against Israel, that with the amount of launchers they have, could launch 1000 missiles per day into the Jewish state.

Yet, we see no resemblance of Hezbollah mentioned among the Ezekiel invaders. Hezbollah hails from Lebanon, and if they were part of the Ezekiel prophecy, they would likely be identified by the biblical names for Lebanon, which are Lebanon, Tyre, Sidon, or Gebal. None of these names are listed in Ezekiel 38, however, Tyre and Gebal are listed in the Psalm 83 prophecy.

The question is: "Why isn't Lebanon, Tyre, Sidon or Gebal listed alongside Persia in Ezekiel 38:1-6?" In his forty-eight chapters Ezekiel refers to these places at least twenty-times, but not even an honorable mention in Ezekiel 38-39. Additionally, perplexing, is the fact that Ezekiel 38:15 and 39:2 specify that the Magog invaders attack from the North of Israel, which is the actual geographic location of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Perhaps like the Houthis, Hezbollah has something crippling happen to this terrorist group that eliminates it from the Magog invasion.

"It was the heaviest Israeli barrage in Syria since the 2011 start of the civil war in which Iranians, allied Shi'ite Muslim militias and Russian troops have deployed in support of President Bashar al-Assad. The confrontation came two days after the United States announced its withdrawal, with Israel's urging, from a nuclear accord with Iran."

Iran has been instrumental in supporting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria throughout the Syrian revolution. Yet, there is no mention of Syria, Assyria, Damascus, Hamath or Arpad among the Magog Invaders. These are the biblical names for modern-day Syria. Ezekiel alludes to these names at least twelve times in his forty-eight chapters, but not once in Ezekiel 38.

However, Assyria shows up in the Psalm 83 prophecy. Damascus is destroyed in the prophecies within Isaiah 17, and Damascus, Hamath and Arpad are the subjects of Jeremiah 49:23-27. "Why isn't Syria listed alongside Iran in Ezekiel 38?" Is it because Damascus gets destroyed in Isaiah 17 beforehand?

As this Jerusalem Post headline points out, Hamas is another Iranian proxy terrorist group. Hamas is located in the ancient biblical lands of Philistia or Gaza among other names. Although Philistia is identified in Psalm 83:7, it is nowhere to be found in Ezekiel 38-39. "Why not?" Is it because Psalm 83 finds fulfillment prior to Ezekiel 38? Is that also why Hezbollah and Assyria are not part of Ezekiel 38. All three of these Iranian proxies today, were aligned together in the 3000-year old prophecy of Psalm 83.

They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." For they have consulted together with one consent;

They form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalm 83:4-8)

DOES PSALM 83 PRECEDE EZEKIEL 38? IS THAT WHY THESE IRANIAN PROXIES ARE MISSING IN ACTION IN THE EZEKIEL 38-39 PROPHECIES? For more information about this possibility, read my article entitled, "Psalm 83 or Ezekiel 38, Which is the Next Middle East News Headline." Below is a map of the Inner Circle of the Psalm 83 confederacy. These are Israel's notorious enemies. Compare this to the Outer Ring map above of the Ezekiel 38 coalition, who have never been Israel's historical enemies.

REVEALING IRAN'S DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Many of you may not recognize that Iran is the subject of two latter days prophecies. Jeremiah 49:34-39, which identifies Iran as Elam and Ezekiel 38:5, which mentions Iran as Persia. The map below identifies these two ancient territories as part of modern-day Iran. The Jeremiah Elam prophecy, in my estimation, appears to be dealing with Iran's present nuclear scenario, and I believe it could happen NOW!

If you want to learn more about the vastly overlooked Jeremiah prophecy of Elam, you can read my book or watch my DVD entitled. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, Revealing the Ancient Prophecy of Elam. The book/DVD is available at this link: http://ecommerce.solutionsimplicity.com/bundle

The next few days may well be the most challenging and fateful period that Israel's security establishment has contended with for decades. Not since the Six Day War or the Yom Kippur War has the Jewish state been confronted with such direct threats on its borders.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released satellite photos showing the devastation its warplanes wreaked on Iranian bases during Wednesday night's bombing campaign that marked the largest IDF action inside Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. This after Iranian forces in Syria fired a volley of about 20 rockets aimed at IDF positions in the Golan Heights - the first time Iran was accused of directly rocketing Israel.

This week's exchanges followed numerous airstrikes in Syria attributed to Israel targeting Iran-run bases in territory controlled by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime. Those strikes came after Iran brazenly dispatched an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into Israeli territory in February before it was quickly shot down by the Israeli military. An IDF investigation revealed the Iranian drone, sent from the Iran-run T-4 airbase in Syria, was carrying explosives and seemingly deployed to attack an Israeli target.

The IDF says its major strikes in Syria have set back Iran's military infrastructure in that country by many months. Still, Israel has warned that Iran likely maintains more hardware, especially missile silos, hidden in the country. The vast Hezbollah missile and larger militant infrastructure in Lebanon remains entirely unscathed and can be utilized by Iran at any time.

While Iran stands to massively lose from another round of Israeli bombardment in Syria and Tehran must be careful not to provoke another fierce response, the thinking among Israeli security ranks here is that the Iranians are likely to retaliate in some form, either directly or through proxies. When and how are open for debate.

Iran has numerous strike possibilities and Israel must be on its highest alert for every scenario. Tehran can directly rocket Israel from Syria or less likely from Lebanon. Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah or other Shiite militias can launch projectiles or attempt to infiltrate the Golan Heights. Iran can also attack a Jewish or Israeli target overseas using one of the many terrorist organizations the Mullahs support. Any attack from Lebanon would risk the immediate opening of a new front against Israel.

Meanwhile, the Jewish state next week must contend with numerous other potential threats, some of which can be easily fueled by Iran.

On Sunday, Israelis will celebrate Jerusalem Day, which marks Israel's reunification of its capital city. On this day in 1967, Israel took eastern Jerusalem from illegal Jordanian occupation, including the ancient Old City, which houses historic Jewish neighborhoods and Judaism's holiest site the Temple Mount. Due to the shifting political dynamics these last months, Palestinian terrorist groups - some directly financed by Iran - are more likely than ever to use this year's Jerusalem Day to provoke attacks.

Israel's security forces will step up deployment throughout Jerusalem the next day as well. Monday will see the official opening of the new U.S. embassy building in Jerusalem, another occasion that could be hijacked by Palestinian groups, including Iran-backed terrorist organizations, to provoke chaos.

And on Tuesday, Palestinians commemorate so-called Nakba Day, which essentially mourns the "catastrophe" of Israel's founding. The IDF, already deployed to the North to contend with the Syria threat, will need to defend against Hamas's announced plot to escalate terror riots along the Gaza-Israel border. In fact, Hamas is planning its largest escalation yet for Tuesday, prompting the IDF's Gaza Division and Southern Command to deploy along the Gaza border to protect against the coming surge. One need not be a military tactician to view Tuesday's Gaza riots as an opportune time for Iran to launch a provocation from the North.

As Shabbat, the day of rest, begins here in Israel, the country prepares for the most critical days since its previous wars.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jack Kinsella went to be with the Lord in 2013, and he wrote the article below in 2006 - fast forward 12 years to 2018 - and I believe we are beginning to see the stage being set for the infamous battle of Gog and Magog. Was Jack a prophet, no, but he certainly had a gift, and for writing and, commenting on Bible Prophecy, with Godly wisdom and discernment - enjoy!---------------------------------

According to the prophet Ezekiel, there will arise in the last days, a massive military and political alliance more-or-less formally known as the 'Gog-Magog Alliance.'

"Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him . . ." (Ezekiel 38:2)

According to Ezekiel, Gog and Magog will lead an alliance of nations in the last days in a disastrous [for them] invasion against the reborn nation of Israel.

In Ezekiel 38:3, Ezekiel clearly identifies Gog as a person, rather than a place; "the prince of Meshech and Tubal."

The Scofield Reference Bible's notes to Ezekiel claim that "Meshech" is a Hebrew form of Moscow, and that "Tubal" represents the Siberian capital Tobolsk.

That interpretation would make Gog both a 'place' -- the Russian Federation of Nations -- AND a 'person' -- in the sense of a federated Russian leadership.

Magog was a son of Japeth, who, together with his brothers Tubal, Meshech, and Togarmah (Genesis 10:2-3) settled what is modern-day Russia and the southern steppes of the Caucasus mountains.

And Ezekiel identifies 'Gog' as coming from the north of Israel. Following the compass due north from Jerusalem will take you through the center of Moscow.

The army of Gog and Magog primarily includes people from the nations of Gog, Gomer, Tubal, Meshech, and the house of Togarmah from the "north parts." They will be joined by Persians from the East, Put from the West, Cushites from the South, and others.

"Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. . . " (Ezekiel 38:5-6)

"Gomer" is mentioned in Genesis as well as Ezekiel. The Jewish-turned-Roman historian Flavius Josephus identified Gomer with the Galatians.

"For Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call Galatians, [Galls,] but were then called Gomerites." (Antiquities of the Jews, I:6.)

Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia (now Turkey). Galatia was bounded on the north by Bithynia and Paphlagonia, on the east by Pontus, on the south by Lycaonia and Cappadocia, and on the west by the remainder of Phrygia, the eastern part of which the Gauls had invaded.

The modern capital of Turkey, Ankara, is part of ancient Galatia.

Historically, 'Gomer' is also linked to the ancient Cimmerians. The Cimmerians eventually settled the regions north of the Caucasus and the Black Sea, in what is now parts of Russia and the Ukraine.

The Cimmerians are believed to have migrated north from the region now called Azebaijanaround the time of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

Both the ancient Cimmerians and the Gomerites spoke a form of the Thracian or Persian language.

Tubal was another son of Japheth who settled the area. Josephus wrote:

"Tobal gave rise to the Thobeles, who are now called Iberes".

Josephus' 'Iberes' settled in the area of the former Soviet state of Georgia.

Ezekiel begins his listing of Gog-Magog's allies with Persia, or modern day Iran. Iran's allies, according to Ezekiel, include "Ethiopia" and "Libya."

"Phut also was the founder of Libya to the south and called the inhabitants Phutites, from himself."

(Some versions of Scripture render 'Libya' (as does the KJV) whereas others render it 'Put' -- a grandson of Noah.)

Put settled an area that included most of North Africa including Libya and parts of modern Egypt.

"Ethiopia" (also rendered by some versions as 'Cush') was a civilization centered in the North African region of Nubia, located in what is today southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

Cush was another grandson of Noah, and the father of Nimrod. Josephus gives an account of the nation of Cush, who is the son of Ham and the grandson of Noah.

"For of the four sons of Ham, time has not at all hurt the name of Chus; for the Ethiopians, over whom he reigned, are even at this day, both by themselves and by all men in Asia, called Chusites." (Antiquities of the Jews I:6.)

In the 5th century AD the Himyarites, in the south of Arabia, were styled by Syrian writers as Cushaeans and Ethiopians, and it is certain that the present-day areas of Yemen and Eritrea were both ruled together by one dynasty at that time.

The African 'Kush' covered Upper Egypt, and extended southwards from the First Cataract. In addition, the Cushitic peoples, who live around the Horn of Africa and today comprise the Somali, Afar, Oromo and several other tribes, are popularly asserted to be the offspring of the Biblical Cush.

That the Biblical term was also applied to parts of Arabia is suggested by Genesis, where Cush is the eponymous father of certain tribal and ethnic designations that tend to point to Arabia.

Babylonian inscriptions mention the Kashshi or Kassites, and it was once held that this signified a possible explanation of Cush, the ancestor of Nimrod in Genesis chapter 8.

The rhetorical question, "Can the Cushite change his skin?" in Jeremiah 13:23 implies people of a notably different skin color from the Israelites, most probably an African race.

Also, the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament, made by Greek-speaking Jews between 250 BC and 100 BC, uniformly translates Cush as "Ethiopia".

Assessment:

So, this is what we know. We know that Ezekiel predicts that, 'in the latter days' the chief of chief princes of an alliance called Gog-Magog will arise from a location to the uttermost north of Israel.

We know that due north of the city of Jerusalem on the same longitude is the modern city of Moscow.

We know that Gog will be reluctantly drawn into a conflict with Israel. Ezekiel says Gog will be 'drawn' as if he 'had hooks in his jaws' into this conflict.

The Gog Magog alliance includes modern Russia, the Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf.

We also know that the target of the Gog Magog Alliance is the restored nation of Israel. And finally, we know the time frame. Ezekiel says it will take place 'in the latter days'. Here is something else we know. Ezekiel's alignment of nations was never possible in previous generations.

To begin with, Ezekiel's scenario demands the existence of Israel,

"the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations . . " (Ezekiel 38:8-9)

From Ezekiel's day until May 14, 1948, there was no place on earth called 'Israel'. Prior to 1948, Russia had little interest in the Middle East. The Middle East had been part of the Islamic Ottoman Empire since the time of Columbus.

Ezekiel lived one thousand years before Mohammed introduced Islam to the world. Ezekiel lived twenty-five hundred years before David ben-Gurion announced the rebirth of Israel on May 14, 1948.

The fulfillment of Ezekiel's Gog-Magog prophecy depends entirely on the simultaneous development of two concurrent events; the rebirth of Israel and the rebirth of Mohammedan-style radical Islam.

Look at Ezekiel's main protagonists. There are three.

The first is Gog and Magog, the modern Russian federation. Gog and Magog's participation in the invasion force, according to Ezekiel, comes as a result of God's promise to,

I've often pondered the phrase, 'turn thee back' (Hebrew 'paqad' or 'call to remembrance'). I recall writing a piece for This Week in Bible Prophecy in 1992. The story was about the new Russian parliament suddenly breaking mid-session to rush out to the halls of the Duma where newly-admitted Western missionaries were handing out free New Testaments.

Having just emerged from a lifetime of godless Communism, Russians were eager to hear the Word of God and Christian missionaries were welcomed with open arms.

For several years, Russians were offered this 'call to remembrance' of Scripture before former KGB operative Vladimir Putin slammed the door shut on foreign missionaries. The Russian Orthodox Church -- which was heavily infiltrated by the KGB during the Communist era -- the only legal Christian religion in Russia.

The 'call to remembrance' was over. When Moscow later entered into its nuclear agreement with Iran, the hook was set.

The second of Ezekiel's protagonists is the alliance itself.

Look at the list carefully. Every single nation and region named as Gog-Magog allies is part of the Islamic world. Every single one of them.

Islamic North Africa, [Ethiopia and Libya] including the Sudan, whose Islamic government is currently conducted genocide against its Christian population.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and the heart and soul of radical Wahabbist jihadist Islam.

Turkey, (ruled by the Islamic Party), together with most of the Russian Republic's Islamic 'stans'.

Persia, or modern Iran, the 'hook' in Gog's jaw. Iran's nuclear program was built by, overseen, guarded and maintained by Russian scientists, technicians and military forces. Iran's leader has made it something of a habit to mention the destruction of Israel in every speech.

That brings us to the third protagonist in Ezekiel's scenario -- Israel.

According to Ezekiel, the entire invasion force is assembled to one purpose. The destruction of Israel. Israel has but two choices facing it.

Israel can gamble that the rest of the world will restrain Iran's mad mullahs from pulling the nuclear trigger against them. Or Israel can act militarily to remove the threat itself.

A third possibility, although not among Israel's choices, is that the United States will act to remove Iran's nuclear facilities before Israel faces the point of no return. The possibility the US will act in time is just that -- a possibility.

Israel's entire existence has been a gamble, but gambling that the world will protect them from Iran is an unacceptable bet. Gambling on US intervention is a long shot, but the odds are within acceptable ranges, so Israel can afford to sit tight for the time being.

But Israel will only gamble with its existence for so long before it is forced to push all its chips into the middle and take out Iran's Russian-built, Russian-staffed and Russian-guarded nuclear facilities.

Setting the hook in Gog's jaw and bringing all three protagonists together 'against the mountains of Israel' exactly as Ezekiel predicted would take place 'in the latter days'.

Israel is currently defending the Golan Heights from Iran's hostile bases in Syria by launching very precise missile strikes. The presence of Turkey, Iran, al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, Hezbollah, Hamas and other enemies of God and of Israel in the Syrian theatre has many wondering about the Isaiah 17 prophecy about the destruction of Damascus. There is much speculation about whether we are now entering into the end time scenario written so much about by the prophets in the Bible. Certainly, the crucible of prophecy is being stirred and heated, but we must pay close attention to the actual words and context of the prophets to discern current events.

According to the prophet Isaiah, 17:1, "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap." Many point to this verse to speculate when and how Damascus will be destroyed. If we study the context of the prophecy, Chapter 10 begins with prophesying judgment on Assyria and Ephraim (one of the tribes of Israel) for attacking Israel. Damascus is named as one of the Assyrian's vassals. Damascus also is included in end time judgment accounts of Egypt, Babylon, Moab, Assyria, Ethiopia, Tyre, Philistia and others. This demonstrates the near and the far of prophesy. Some of this was fulfilled historically; other parts of it are yet to be fulfilled.

There has been a lot of talk that this is the time that perhaps Isaiah's prophecy will be fulfilled. Damascus, after all, is hardly a city nowadays. It is maintaining a heartbeat after years of civil war and fighting that includes various al Qaeda terrorist groups, Hezbollah from Iran, Russian interests, American interests, Turkey, the Islamic State, and, of course the Assad government. The ingredients are there for the total destruction of Damascus. Damascus may be devastated by this massive gathering of many forces, but it is not the total destruction prophesied by Isaiah. As with most prophecy, it often appears to be fulfilled, but in types and shadows, layers, and signs before it is ultimately fulfilled.

The context of Isaiah 17 is judgment on nations that come against Israel, beginning in Chapter 9 and continuing through Chapter 24. The phrase "In/At that day" is mentioned no less than four times in Isaiah 17, a short chapter of 14 verses. This phrase is an indicator for the Day of the Lord, meaning when the Lord returns to judge the nations that came against Israel. Verse 7 says, "At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel." Verse 11 speaks that the harvest shall be a day of grief and of desperate sorrow. Context is key. It's irresponsible to take just one verse and develop a scenario or doctrine around it. In Syria, we are seeing prophetic movement, but we will know when God fulfills the prophecy. It will be clear.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. -Romans 5:12

I was getting a haircut the other day, and the stylist spent as much time trimming my ears as she did cutting my hair. I wonder why it is that hair doesn't grow where you want it to grow, and it does grow where it shouldn't grow.

As we age, our bodies wear out. This one of the results of the curse that came upon humanity in the Garden of Eden because Adam and Eve sinned. We know that sickness, and even death itself, is a result of it. Romans 5:12 tells us, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (NKJV).

In a broad sense, the very fact that our bodies don't last forever, that our bodies wrinkle and age, and our hair falls out, is the result of that curse. Sickness is a part of the curse as well. It can come into the lives of Christians and even be allowed by God.

Sickness and death comes because of sin in general, but it also can come as a result of it. When Jesus healed a man who was paralyzed, He said, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you" (Matthew 9:2 NKJV). This indicates that in this man's case, his paralysis was linked to personal sin. I'm not suggesting the reason someone is paralyzed or has a disability is because of personal sin. Not all sickness is the result of personal sin, but in this man's case it was.

We all have to come to terms with our own mortality. The question is where will you go? Will you go to meet the Lord in Heaven? Or, will you be eternally separated from Him in a place called Hell?

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